Mitch McConnell leads Alison Lundergan Grimes for first time in Kentucky poll

Gaining ground: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell leads Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the Bluegrass Poll for the first time, and National Journal has several important takeaways for the closely watched race. Among them: that McConnell is gaining ground, even though his lead is just two points. He trailed Grimes by four points in February and one point in May. Further, Grimes is winning women voters by just a single percentage point. To win in November she likely needs to win more women. The poll is sponsored by four media organizations in Kentucky.

Inversion vote coming in fall? The Washington Post reports Senate Democrats hope to hold a vote on closing the corporate tax inversion loophole in the fall. “Mainly,” writes the Post’s liberal blogger Greg Sargent, “because they see an outside shot at some Republican cooperation and want to get something done, but also because it would be good politics if Republicans block it.” Sargent says it’s uncertain if Democrats will be able to stage a vote on reining in inversions in the fall, since other items like reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and government funding will take up time. “But if they do stage a vote,” he writes, “and Republicans nix it – you can expect that to figure into the Dem argument heading into Election Day.”

Go ahead, hate me: Arizona Sen. John McCain says it’s a “true badge of honor” to be featured as an enemy in propaganda by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Republican said in a statement: “I was proud to be sanctioned by [Russian President] Vladimir Putin earlier this year, but to be targeted by ISIL as the ‘enemy’ and ‘crusader’ is a true badge of honor.” Politico has more on McCain and ISIL, which he calls “the most dangerous Islamic extremist terrorist group in the world.”

Climate case: The White House is issuing a report Tuesday that argues for quick action to fight climate change. The Wall Street Journal says the report finds economic costs to address climate change rise by 40% in each decade in which there is a delay in enacting policies to cut carbon emissions. The report is meant to help build the Obama administration’s case for the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed carbon rule for power plants. Public hearings on the rule begin Tuesday.

Grover goes west: Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist is headed to this year’s Burning Man festival, in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. There’s no word via his Twitter feed about what exactly he’ll be doing there, but as Slate says, his pilgrimage makes sense. “He’s a libertarian anti-tax crusader. Burning Man is a libertarian utopia. Why wouldn’t he want to see some of his ideals in action?” Slate asks.

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